Adjustable delivery dispenser



p 1957 M. B. SAMPSON ADJUSTABLE DELIVERY DISPENSER Filed April 9, 1956 mm m m MEkR/TT 3. 514142 5014 A TTORNE Y5- ADJUSTABLE DELIVERY DISPENSERMerritt B. Sampson, Chagrin Falls, Ohio, assignor to ContinentalSay-When Corporation, Cleveland, Ohio, a corporation of Ohio ApplicationApril 9, 1956, Serial No. 576,989

Claims. (Cl. 222-309) This invention relates to a dispenser for liquidsthe operation of which is adjustable to provide a varying volumedischarge or delivery. More particularly, my new dispenser is of thetype comprising a piston-cylinder pumping assembly, and the adjustabledelivery is accomplished by means serving variably to limit thedisplacement or working stroke of such assembly.

It is an object of the invention to provide a dispenser of this type ofa construction which is both economical and reliable in operation, thelatter applying to the action whereby the delivery adjustment is made aswell as to operation in any given position of adjustment. Theconstruction, moreover, is of a nature which permits design of thedispenser dong clean, modern lines, especially characterized by theabsence of elements or devices projecting exteriorly and not only givingthe dispenser a cluttered appearance, but perhaps even encumberingmanipulation of the same.

Another object is to provide such a dispenser wherein thestroke-determining means includes structure normally precluding a changein adjustment to prevent unintentional shifting from one delivery volumeto another, without, however, rendering such a change inconvenient whendesired.

It is also an object of the invention to provide a liquid dispenserhaving the above-noted characteristics which is adapted to be mounted ona container of the liquid to be dispensed, the dispenser being operativeto deliver different predetermined volumes of the liquid from thecontainer in accordance with the adjustment thereof.

A further object is the provision of a container-mounted dispenserincluding a stationary piston and a pumping cylinder, with meansselectively operative differently to determine the delivery whollyconfined within the pumping chamber.

Other objects and advantages will become apparent as the followingdescription proceeds.

To the accomplishment of the foregoing and related ends, the invention,then, comprises the features hereinafter fully described andparticularly pointed out in the claims, the following description andthe annexed drawing setting forth in detail a certain illustrativeembodiment of the invention, this being indicative, however, of but oneof the various ways in which the principle of the invention may beemployed.

In said annexed drawing:

Fig. 1 is a longitudinal sectional view of a dispenser made inaccordance with the present invention, the plane of the section beingindicated by the line 11 in Fig. 2;

Fig. 2 is a transverse section taken on the plane of the line 22 in Fig.1;

Fig. 3 is a fragmentary side elevation of the device; and

Fig. 4 illustrates in developed form the relationship of cooperable stopmembers used to effect the desired adjustment in the delivery of thedispenser.

Referring now to the drawings in detail, the construction illustratedcomprises a piston assembly, designated generally by reference numeral10, formed with a lower atefit central extension 11 of stepped diameter.

engaged about the reduced extremity of such downward extension and isused to mount the piston assembly on a bottle or other container forliquid, the stopper being inserted in the mouth of the same.

The piston assembly is also formed with a central extension 13 at theopposite or inner side and a downwardly extending peripheral flange 14.A ring-like stop portion 15, to be described more in detail later,extends inwardly or upwardly at the periphery of the piston assembly as,in part, a cylindrical extension of the lower flange 14.

A cylinder 16 substantially completely closed at one end 17 and open atthe other end 18 is disposed about the piston assembly to form a pumpingchamber therewith. The two parts are relatively reciprocal and sealed bymeans of a ring 19 made of resiliently deformable material and seated ina groove 20 provided therefor in the inwardly extending peripheralportion of the piston assembly. A tubular member 21 is secured to thetop wall of the cylinder and extends axially downwardly through a bore22 in the central portion of the piston assembly in order to guide thereciprocation, which in normal operation would be constituted bymovement of the cylinder relative to the piston assembly since thelatter is held stationary on a liquid container. At the point ofconnection between the cylinder top wall and such tubular guide 21, theformer is provided with a port 23 for the entrance of air, and a secondpart 24 in the tubular member itself provides communication, first,between supply port 23 and the pumping chamber and, second, from suchchamber to the liquid container through the lower portion of the guide.

A main coil spring 25 is arranged axially between the piston assemblyand the upper end of the cylinder normally to urge the cylinderoutwardly and maintain the same in an extended condition. It will beclear that upon blocking of the supply port 23 with the finger or handof a user and pushing downwardly on the cylinder, a charge of air isforced through the tubular member into an associated container. Thedispenser assembly also carries a discharge tube 26 having a mainvertical section 27 for positioning in the container and a bent endportion 28 in the nature of a spout, this tube being received in agroove formed in the piston assembly and overlain by the stopper 12.

The desired adjustment in the delivery, whereby a user may select one ofa plurality of volumes for discharge, is provided by the stop member 15of the piston assembly in cooperation with two stop pins 29 secured tothe cylinder top wall in diametrical opposition. The member 15 is, aspreviously noted, a ring-like inward extension of the piston assembly,and it is formed with a series of end notches or recesses 30 in pairs ofdiiierent longitudinal extent. In the construction illustrated, theserecesses are open at the inner periphery of the member and are, ofcourse, adapted to receive the stop pins upon advance of the cylinder.As shown most clearly in Fig. 4, the stop member 15 provides a pluralityof steps adapted to be abutted by the ends of the stop pins and therebyprovide different limits on the working stroke of the assembly. Foursuch steps are shown but this number may obviously be increased ordecreased as desired.

The cylinder and the piston assembly are relatively rotatable, so thatthe stop pins 29 may be variably aligned with the steps, the adjustmentmost usually being accomplished by turning of the cylinder. To protectagainst an inadvertent change in adjustment, I provide a smallcounterbalancing spring 31 acting between the lower end of the pistonassembly and a head 32 formed on the end of the tubular guide 21 inopposition to the main spring. The dimensioning of the stop members andthe spring Patented Sept. 10, 1957 A tapered stopper sleeve 12 of cork,rubber, plastic, and the like, is

30 of. the stop me mber 15. Accordingly, the relatiye rotation wherebyadjustment is accomplished is normally precluded and the cylinder mustfirst be axially Withdrawn againstithe coiinterbalancing spring untilthe stop pins'fclear th'e member before it can be rotated. This providesa positive setting which may nevertheless be very readily altered whendesired. V

Each setting provides displacement of a given volume of airfroni thepumping chamber to the liquid container and results in a correspondingvolume of liquid being diseharged from the latter. feetive'tspreducethose delivery flows desired, and indication of the same is prov'ided bycooperable. marking'on the. cylinder and piston assembly. prises ajsenesoflines and numeral indicia 33 embossed or otherwise applied on thepiston assembly flange 14 and a pointer or indicator deviee 34 at thelower edge of the cylinder, such lines being spaced in accordance withrotativ-e positioning of the stop pins relative to the steps 39.

It 'willf accordingly be seen that my new dispenser employsstroke-varying means completely enclosed within the assembly, and thusnot of sight, and of a nature permitting ready and convenientadjustment; the overall appearance is highly attractive by virtue of itssimplicity.

. Other modes of applying the principle of the invention ma be employed,change being made as regards the details described, provided thefeatures stated in any of the fo'llowing'claim's or the equivalent ofsuch be employed.

I, therefore, particularly point out and distinctly claim as myinvention:

V I. adjustable delivery dispenser comprising a piston assembly adaptedto be mounted and held stationary'on a container of liquid to bedispensed, a cylinder disposed for reciprocation about said pistonassembly and forming a pumping chamber therewith, main spring meansoperative resiliently to maintain the cylinder extended with respect tothe stationary piston assembly, a pair of stop elementsc'arn'ed by saidcylinder in diametrical oppositionand extending longitudinally in thedirection of the piston assembly, a cooperable ring-like stop member onthe inner side of the piston assembly, said stop member having"corresponding sets of end notches of diiterent depth for selectiveengagement with the cylinder stop elements to'limit advance of thecylinder, the latter being rotatable for indexing of its stop elementswith respect to such notches, thereby to adjust the limit of such ad-Vance, and counterbalancing spring means acting against themain springmeans normally to maintain the ends of the cylinder stop elementswithin' the selected notches of the ring like member, whereby thecylinder must be extended further than normal for rotation of the same,the main spring means, stop elements, and stop member being whollywithin the pumping chamber.

Anadjustable delivery dispenser comprising a piston assembly adapted tobe mounted and held stationary on a container of liquid to be dispensed,a cylinder disposed for reciprocation about said piston assembly andforming a pumping chamber therewith, main spring means op crativeresiliently to maintain the cylinder extended with 'stop element tolimit advance of the cylinder, the latter being rotatable for indexingof its stop element with respect to such notches'for adjusting the limitof such advance, and counterbalancing spring means acting against themain spring means normally to maintain'the end of the cylinder stopelement within a selected notch of the The settings are made ef-' Asshown, this comring-like member, whereby the cylinder must be extendedfurther than normal for rotation of the same, the main spring means,stop element, and stop member being wholly within the pumping chamber.

3. An adjustable delivery dispenser comprising a piston assembly adaptedto be mounted and held stationary on a container of liquid to bedispensed, a cylinder disposed for reciprocation about said pistonassembly and forming a pumping chamber therewith, main spring meansoperative resiliently to maintain the cylinder extended with respect tothe stationary piston assembly; first and second cooperable stop memberscarried respectively by said piston assembly and cylinder for thelimiting advance of the latter, one of said stop members being ring-likewith a series of end notches of difierent depth, the cylinder beingrotatable to index the other stop member with respect to such notches,thereby adjustably to determine the limit of cylinder advance, andcounterbalancing spring means acting against the mainspring meansnormally to maintain sueh other stop member within a selected notch,whereby thecylinder must be moved outwardly further than normal for suchindexing thereon said first and second stop ,niernbers being whollywithin.

the pumping chamber.

4. An adjustable delivery dispenser comprising a piston assembly adaptedto be mounted and held stationary on a container of liquid to bedispensed, a cylinder disposed for reciprocation about said pistonassembly and forming a pumping chamber therewith, spring means opei'ative resiliently to maintain the cylinder-extended with respect t6 thestationary piston assembly, first and second cooperable stop memberscarried respectively by said piston assembly and cylinder for limitingadvance of the latter, one of saidstop members beingring-like' with aseries of end notches of difie'rent depth, the cylinder being rotatableto index the other stop member with respect to such notches, therebyadjustably' to determine the limit of cylinder advance, andcounterbalancing spring means acting against the main spring meansnormally't'o main-- with respect to the stationary piston assembly, andfirst and second cooperable stop members carried respectively by saidpiston assembly and cylinder for limiting @advance of the latter, one ofsaid stop members being ringa like with a series of end notches ofdifferent depth, the cylinder being rotatable to index the other stopmember with respect to such notches, thereby adjustably to determine thelimit of cylinder advance, said first and 'sec'o'nd stop members beingwholly within the pumping chamber.

6. An adjustable delivery dispenser comprising" a piston. assemblyadapted to be mounted and held stationary on a container of liquid to bedispensed, a cylinder disposed for reciprocation about said pistonassembly and forming a pumping chamber therewith, and first and secondcooperable stop members carried respectively by said piston assembly andcylinder for limiting advance of the latter, one of-said stop membersbeing formed with. a series of circularly arranged steps for'selectiveengagementwith the other stop member, the cylinder and piston assemblybeing relatively rotatable adjustably to position such otherstop memberwith respect to -such steps, said first and second stop members thepumping chamber. a V V 7. An adjustable delivery dispenser comprising apiston assembly adapted to be mounted and held stationary on a containerof liquid to be dispensed, a cylinder di ssdie rss q a i nu bou sa p seb y being wholly within a and forming a pumping chamber therewith,spring means operative to bias the cylinder outwardly, longitudinallyinterfitting stop members carried respectively by the piston assemblyand cylinder, the piston assembly and cylinder being relativelyrotatable to place the stop members in different positions of adjustmentin which they variably limit advance of the cylinder, and resilientlydeformable means acting against the spring means normally to hold thecylinder in such extended condition that the stop members are partiallyinterfitted, such partial interfit precluding relative rotation of thecylinder, whereby the same must be moved outwardly to change therelation of the stop members.

8. In a dispenser, a cylinder, a plate in said cylinder which isreciprocable and rotatable relative thereto, spring means acting betweenthe plate and cylinder, stop members respectively carried by the plateand cylinder for variably limiting relative movement of the same againstthe spring means, said stop members longitudinally interfitting invarious positions of rotative adjustment, and counterbalancing meansacting in opposition to said spring means, said counterbalancing meansnormally maintaining the plate and cylinder with said stop memberspartially interfitted releasably to preclude such rotative adjustment,the cylinder and plate thereby being first moved axially apart forrelative rotation thereof.

9. In a dispenser, a piston, a relatively reciprocable and rotatablecylinder enclosing said piston, stop means adjustable by relativerotation of said cylinder variably to limit the relative reciprocationthereof, said stop means being totally enclosed by the cylinder, andmeans for the supply and discharge of fluid to and from the cylinder.

10. In an adjustable delivery dispenser, a piston assembly adapted to bemounted and held stationary on a container of liquid to be dispensed, acylinder disposed for reciprocation about said pistion and forming apumping chamber therewith, said cylinder being rotatable about its axison the pistion assembly, and stop means adjustable by such rotation ofthe cylinder variably to limit reciprocation of the same, said stopmeans being totally enclosed within the cylinder.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS2,123,737 Lewis July 12, 1938

